‘The game is up’: Home secretary urges British Muslims to tackle extremism

Home Secretary Theresa May has appealed for Muslims to help tackle the threat of extremism, saying Britain must not tolerate citizens who fail to respect its values and that British freedoms come with “responsibilities.”

Her comments came with
the unveiling of a broad approach to tackling extremism in the
UK. May said while extremism exists in racism, anti-Semitism and
homophobia, Islamic extremism is the greatest threat to the
country.

Her plans did not include handing ministers powers to tell
educational institutions to ban extremist speakers, a measure
staunchly opposed by her party’s coalition partners, the Liberal
Democrats.

“Everybody living in this country is equal and everybody is
free to lead their lives as they see fit,” she told an
audience in central London.

“We are free to practice any faith, follow any religious
denomination, or ignore religion altogether.

“We are free to wear whatever clothes we choose. We are free
to establish our own faith schools and give our sons and
daughters the best education possible. We are free to build our
own churches, temples and mosques and worship freely,” she
said.

May added that with the freedoms offered by British society comes
the responsibility to respect others’ values. She said the
“overwhelming majority” of people in the country
“accept and positively cherish” the arrangement.

“But there is increasing evidence that a small but
significant number of people living in Britain – almost all of
whom are British citizens – reject our values,” she added.

She warned of growing levels of Islamic extremism spreading
throughout the country, citing examples of the Trojan Horse plot
to take over Birmingham schools and allegations of extremist
ideas being promulgated in schools.

“We have been clear all along that the government’s
counter-extremism strategy must seek to defeat extremism in all
its forms, but it’s obvious from the evidence that the most
serious and widespread form of extremism we need to confront is
Islamist extremism.”

May has been responsible for introducing a plethora of new
counter-terror measures, including seizing suspects’ passports.

But she has been criticized for implementing policies that
unfairly target the Muslim community.

May also said those who follow Islam are “entirely
compatible” with British values, but added there is a clear
distinction between followers and extremists.

“They demand a caliphate, or a new Islamic state, governed by
a harsh interpretation of Sharia law.”

“They utterly reject British and Western values, including
democracy, the rule of law, and equality between citizens,
regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion or sexuality.
They believe that it’s impossible to be a good Muslim and a good
British citizen.”

She called on Muslims to tackle the “intolerance, hatred and
bigotry” of extremism, which “erodes” women’s
rights and “discriminates” against race and sexuality.

“Trust is replaced by fear, reciprocity by envy, and
solidarity by division.”

“Government cannot act alone. Individual people, families and
whole communities need help and those of you fighting the
extremists deserve our support,” she said.

“So my invitation is clear – come and join that partnership.
If you join us, we will do everything we can to help you. We will
help you to stand up to the extremists by denying them the
opportunity to spread their messages of hate and division.”

The home secretary sent a clear warning to extremists: “The
game is up. We will no longer tolerate your behavior. We will
expose your hateful beliefs for what they are.

“Where you seek to spread hate, we will disrupt you. Where
you break the law, we will prosecute you. Where you seek to
divide us, we will stand united. And together, we will defeat
you.”